Latino Daily News

Spanish Flamenco Dancer Israel Galvan Performs “Solo” Internationally

To be able to perform for all the audiences and at all the festivals that want him, Spanish flamenco dancer Israel Galvan says he’s had to go it alone, dance without musicians and without fancy sets in order to lower costs.

“I’ve gone 40 minutes solo, without music, to be able to keep dancing. Since it’s cheaper, I dance without music or anything,” the artist said in an interview in Mexico, where he is currently giving one of his shows.

No audio, no lights, no stage sets. “Wherever they dump me,” said the dancer, considered one of the great masters of flamenco of the 21st century, about his show “Solo,” which he has performed in different “odd spaces.”

Meaning all those places where they ask him to dance but haven’t even enough money to hire a guitar player. “It’s just collateral damage of the crisis,” he said.

He’s now in Mexico presenting the work “La Edad de Oro” (The Golden Age), created in 2005 and which, thanks to its 200 performances, it’s now one of his signature pieces.

It is also a frugal work, with only a guitarist (Alfredo Lagos), a flamenco singer (David Lagos) and himself onstage. “I didn’t create it with that idea but we have to think in terms of the crisis, because there are no resources for a large-scale production,” he said.

He did add, however, that they can say they’ve been “lucky” because there are fewer people who dance flamenco so they are suffering less from the crisis than people in other arts.

Israel Galvan de los Reyes, who was born in Seville in 1983, is known for his complicated dance steps, his unique footwork and for his innovative flamenco dancing.